Improvement in grain-binders



I. F.` GORDON.

Grain-Binders. Y

No, 140,822, Parentedlulywnas.

Uivrr JAMES F. GORDON, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEENT IN GRAIN-BINDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. RMLQQQ, dated July15,1873; application filed October 24, 1872.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES F'. GORDON, ofRochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have inventedcertain Improvements in Wire-Twisters for Grain-Bindin g Hari/esters, ofwhich the following is a speciiication:

The object of this invention is to provide the wire-twister of thisclass of grain-binders A with a clearing device that shall prevent thepossibility of the twister becoming clogged by fragments of straws,wire, or other substances. Its nature consists mainly in the employmentof a spring-latch,which acts upon the twister in such a manner as toeffectually clear the wire-clamping groove of all obstructions duringits entire operation.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the twister and its supportingstand. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the twister T, having my clearerattached. Fig. 3 is an inverted view of the twister T. Fig. 4 is adetached view of the cutter-plate or blade b. The drawings represent theinvention.

One of the greatest difficulties in binding grain with wire byautomatically-acting. ma-

chinery I have `found to be)d in the liability of the wire-clamping slotof the twister-head getting clogged with fragments of wire and straws. Ihave effectually overcome this liability by bifurcating the twister-headT, as

shown in Fig. 1, and placing a clearer-latch, h, between the upper andlower plates f and The channel y should be deep enough to permit thepoint of the clearer-latch at o to reach nearer the axis of the twisterthan is the termination t of the wire-slot s. The clearer h may be made,as shown in Fig. 2, and pivoted upon the stud d, formed on the hanger H.The spring a is secured to a similar stud at k, and the tension-lug cholds it outward and presses the arm m against the lug e. Thecutter-blade li is made as shown in Fig. 4E, and receives the upper endof the shaft S, upon which is formed a shoulder to work against theunder side of the cutterblade, and the twister-head T is attached to theshaft by a right-hand screw. The head is screwed down rmly against theshoulder l, embracing the collar t of the blade between the head and theother shoulder 1^', which renders certain the close working of the twocutting-edges together, the lower side of the twister constituting theupper cutter-blade.

By making the cutter-blade b to encircle the shaft S it becomesimpossible for the wires to be drawn in between the blade and the shaft.

The twister, blade b, and the shaft S are all made 'of steel, whichsecures them from serious wear.

The nut n is attached by a left-hand thread, and by this method ofattachment for the head it is prevented from becoming detached by theconstant changes in the direction of rotation of the shaft.

The lower plate of the twister-head is cut away, as shown at t, Fig. 3,to afford better clearance.

If desired the twister may be made in two parts. The spring a might beextended and so arranged that the end should rest in the groove y of thetwister, and thus be made to do away with the clearer-latch h.'

The pinion P is suitably attached to the shaft, so as to drive it ineither direction alternately. The hanger His bolted to the bed B of thetwister-frame.

The operation of this twister is the same as that heretofore used by me,as shown in my patent of May 12, 1868, except that when the wire hasbeen cut off in this case and given the desired number of twists, therotation of the head is reversed and the clearer l1. wipes out anyfragments of straws, wire, or other accumulations from the wire-slot s,thereby rendering it sure to act in every instance. The wire is cut offand the twisting done when the head rotates in the direction of thevfull line arrow', the clearer h assuming the position indicated by thedotted lines to allow the wire hanging vertically through the slot s topass. IVhen the wire is twisted and the bundle dropped from the machine,the head rotates in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow, andeverything that might other- A wire twisterehead in combination with awise hang in the slot s is forced out by the clearer h, or itsequivalent, arranged to operpoint of the clearer.

An eccentric collar might be applied to the ate conjointly, as and. forthe purposes set twister-head and made to act as a clearer by forth.revolving with the twister in its forward direction, but being preventedfrom turning backward.

What I claim as my invention is- JAMES F. GORDON. Witnesses:

WM. S. LoUGHBoRoUGH,

F. H. CLEMENT.

